Mail-chute.



PATENTED APR. 2a, 1903.

J. G. cU rLER. MAIL GHUTB.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

wbhlmeo UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. CUTLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW. YORK.

MAIL-CHUTE.

. srEcIF'roAtr'IoNremin pm of Letters Patent No. 726,261, dated. April as, 1903.

Application filed NovemberlS, 1902. Serial No. 131,543. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAMES G. CUTLER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Chutes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the referencenumerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to mail-chutes employed for receiving mail-matter at any of the floors of abuilding and conveying it 't'0 a receptacle 0r mail-box in the lower portion thereof, from which latter it is'removed at in tervals and it has for its object to provide an improved means for controllingth'e insertion of mail-matter in the apertures leading into the chute when desired, all as will be hereinafter described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims at fication.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the section ofthe mail-chute in which the letters are deposited. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of a portion of a mailchute,sho'w'ing'two mailing-sections,the upper one being open'for-thereception of mailq'na ter and the'lower one closed, the intermediate parts of the chute beingbrokenaway. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line a 0. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the'end of'the door-or closure, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view-of theend p'l'ateorconfinin g part'andwith which th'e'lo'cking devices on the door cooperate, I

Similar reference-numerals in theseveral figures indicate similar parts.

During theconstruction and in the practical operation of mail-chutes now extensively used in office andother buildings it is sometimes desirable to prevent the entrance of mail-matter at all or a portion of the apertures during repairsto the chute or mailbox, and oftentimes when two or'more'chutes are the end of the speciemployed, entering the same mail-box, it is -plates 2.

terference of mail-matter descending from the floors above. To accomplish this result and as the chutes are under control of the Post- Office Department,it is necessary to provide closures for the apertures into the chute which are capable of manipulation only by authorized persons, so that the best results in the operation and use of the chutes and the requisite security may be attained.

While my invention contemplates the use of any desired form of key-controlled closure for the mailing-apertures, I prefer in some instances to employ that shown in the drawings, in which 1 indicates the casing constituting the mail-chute and embodying, as shown in several of my earlier patents, the glass front The section in which the deposit apertures and closures are arranged consists of a casing (indicated by 3) arranged at the front of the chute, having the removable outer front plate or panel 5 and an inner inclined plate 4E for directing mail-matter into the chute proper.

6 indicates a depending plate or apron extending below the dep'ositing-apertu re to prevent the mail-matter descending the chute from above from catching or being detained.

In the present embodiment the upper portion "of the casing 3 is provided with a cylindrical journaled in the ends of the recess, so as to turn therein to bring the closure or abutment 7 across the upper aperture 20 in the casing or at the side to leave an unobstructed passage, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer side of the closure 7 is rounded to make a reasonably-tight joint with the under side of the upper aperture when closed, and its inner face is slightly recessed, as shown in Fig. 2, permittinga free passage of mail-matter when the door or closure is open. The cylindrical portion of the casing forms an enlarged space between upper and'lower apertures 20 and 21, and the forward edge'of thelow'er aperture and the lower edge of the door may be serrated or toothed, as shown, serving to prevent the passage of bulky pieces of mail-matter which might clog the chute, the serrations preventing the lateral movement of the ends of such pieces as might be squeezed by hand into the smaller upper aperture and forced through, the device resemblingin this respect the guard described in Letters Patent No. 438,626 to J. V. Cutler.

In the present embodiment the closure or door 7 is applied by being inserted in the end of the cylindrical recess in the casing and is confined in position by a collar or plug 12, secured in position in any suitable manner, as by pins 13, the plate 9 being provided with a shoulder 14, engaginga corresponding shoulder in the casing and preventing movement in one direction. The collar 12 is provided on its inner side with projections 15, engaging the plate 8 to prevent longitudinal movement of the closure, and with these lugs cooperates a projection 16 on the plate 8, serving to limit the rotary movement in both directions. Also arranged upon or formed with the plate 8 is an angular stud or projection 17, extending through an aperture in the collar or disk 12, to which is adapted to be applied a removable manipulating handle or key 19, and for the purpose of locking the closure in either opened or closed position I arrange in the end of the plate 8 spring-arms or looking projections 18, adapted to cooperate with recesses 20, formed in the inner face of the collar 12, as shown in Figs. t and 5, said springs being adapted to spring outward into the recesses 20 and hold the closure when either in open or closed position, their inner free ends being adapted to be engaged by the key 19 when moved inwardly upon the stud, so that in order to operate the closure it is only necessary to move the key inward to release the springs 18 whether the closure is open or closed and then turn it in the direction desired. The outer face of the closure '7 may be suitably marked, if desired, with the word Closed, as indicated by the recessed portion, (marked 22,) which may indicate a suitable sign. The key 19 being in the custody of the post-office employee or other person having control of the chute and the closure being capable of being locked in two positions, unauthorized interference will be prevented.

Instead of the particular form of locking and manipulating device shown other suitable key-locks and other forms of closures or doors could be employed without departing from my invention, though the particular form shown is inexpensive and serviceable.

I claim as my invention 1. A mail-chute having mail-receiving apertures in different horizontal planes, a door or closure for each aperture and an independent locking device for each of said doors.

2. The combination with a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, and a door or closure for said aperture, of a lock for holding the door open or closed.

3. The combination with a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, and a door or closure therefor, of a locking device forholding the door open or closed and a removable operating-handle for the door adapted to cooperate with or release the locking device.

4. The combination with a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a door or closn re therefor having an operating portion and a locking device for the door adjacent said operating portion, of a removable operatinghandle adapted to cooperate with the operating portion and to engage and release the locking device.

5. The combination of a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a movable door therefor, a locking device for the door and a removable manipulating-handle adapted to engage and release the locking device when applied to the door to operate it.

6. The combination of a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a door therefor, a locking device for holding the door open and closed and a removable manipulating-handle adapted to engage and release the locking device when applied to the door to operate it.

7. The combination of a mail-chute, a casing attached thereto having a mail-receiving aperture, a rotary door therefor provided with an operating portion, a locking device on the door and engaging the casing and a removable m anipulating-handle for the door adapted to engage and release the lock when applied to the door to operate it.

8. The combination with the casing having the aperture, the rotary door journaled in the casing having the operating portion, and a spring locking device carried by the door and engaging the casing and a removable operating-handle adapted to be applied to the operating portion of the door to engage and release the lock.

9. The combination with the casing having the aperture and the cylindrical recess, of the rotary door arranged in the recess and adapted to close the aperture, and the plate at the end of the recess secured to the casing for holding the door in position.

10. The combination with the casing having the aperture and the cylindrical recess, of the rotary door arranged in the recess and adapted to close the aperture, the plate at the end of the recess holding the door in position and automatic locking devices between the door and plate for holding the door either open or closed.

11. The combination of a mail-chute having a plurality of mail-receiving apertures in different horizontal planes and separate keycontrolled doors or closures for the apertures.

12. The combination with a mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture and inwardlyextending guarding projections arranged a short distance beneath said aperture and in proximity thereto to prevent the passage of bulky packages and a movable door or 010- sure located beneath the outer aperture and above the guard.

13. The combination Witha mail-chute having a mail-receiving aperture, of a door or closure cooperating with the under side thereof to close it and provided with a serrated extension arranged a short distance below the [O aperture when the door is open to prevent the passage of bulky packages.

' JAMES G. CUTLER. Witnesses:

J. H. GILMOR, Jr., J. W. ALLEN CUTLER. 

